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DREAM THEATER Keyboardist To Judge Italian 'Battle Of The Bands'

DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess will appear as a special guest at a battle of the Italian DREAM THEATER cover bands PROGENY (Milan) and YTSEJAMKR (Crotone). Organized by Italian Dreamers, the official Italian DREAM THEATER Fan Club, the event will be held at Teatro in Rimini on November 25, and Jordan will act as "president of the deciding jury for the contest."

As previously reported, Rudess will be a special guest of Israeli rock singer and composer Aviv Geffen at his shows on November 27-29 at Zappa Tel Aviv. Aviv Geffen is also a member of BLACKFIELD, a collaboration with PORCUPINE TREE frontman Steven Wilson.

DREAM THEATER's "Score" two-DVD set was recently certified platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). The set, which sold more than 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 1 on Billboard's Top Music Video chart, contains DREAM THEATER's entire "20th Anniversary World Tour" grand finale recorded live at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 1, 2006.

DREAM THEATER has ended its longtime collaboration with Atco/EastWest Records/The Atlantic Group and is currently in talks with several labels about a possible new record deal. In addition, the group has entered a New York City studio with engineer Paul Northfield (RUSH, QUEENSRŸCHE, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, MARILYN MANSON) to begin recording its follow-up to 2005's "Octavarium", tentatively due next spring.

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